The October 2013 Magic Castle Newsletter has launched a new column,
"Storytime with The Professor", featuring memorable tales told by the
late Dai Vernon. The inaugural story is about, what else, Houdini, and
in it Vernon recounts how S.A.M. members once "tricked" Houdini into
going into a closest at the New York Hippodrome and locked him inside.
"We pulled this trick on him because he was such a terrible egotist,"
said the man who's own ego was pretty well developed.

29 October 2013

At the upcoming WowFest Magic Festival, happening in February 2014,
we want to hand a whole show over to the next generation of magicians!
The Young Magician Showcase will feature amazing performers under the
age of 20. This is an open invitation to all those young
whipper-snappers who want to be a part of WowFest.

28 October 2013

When Evelyn and Phil Matlin’s eldest daughter, Ronna, was playing in the basement, she discovered her father’s long forsaken magician’s suitcase. The year was 1964 and the curious 6-year-old begged him to perform magic at her birthday party.

This event sparked the revival of an inherent skill that Phil had honed in his youth, and to this day the world of magic plays an integral role in the family’s life.

27 October 2013

The I.B.M. Headquarters recently was notified that J.L. Gilles
Fontaine, 86, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, died September 19, 2012.
Born in Quebec City, he was the son of a banker, and became one
himself. At age ten he saw a performance by Harry Blackstone, Sr. and
it inspired him to take up magic as a hobby, collecting magic books,
subscribing to magic magazines, and practicing for hours. He became
"Gilles the Magician," and performed for children and senior citizens
whenever and wherever he could. He even taught magic at a local
elementary school.

26 October 2013

Come in costume for this special Halloween-themed magic show. Ghosts and
goblins of all ages will enjoy magician-illusionist Chris Pilsworth's
amazing wizardry and hilarious antics in a fast-paced, fun-filled
performance.

25 October 2013

Thanks
to an overwhelmingly kind donation from magician Doug Taylor, we are
pleased to announce the Magi-fest Youth Scholarship Program.

Several lucky, enthusiastic young magicians (everyone under 18 is eligible to apply) will receive FREE entrance into the Columbus Magi-Fest. And, there are youth events being planned open only to the young, serious magicians.

Harry Houdini spent a month in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1896. This
Halloween, some are hoping the legendary escape artist will return to
the harbour city. The 2013 Official Houdini Séance is set to convene at
historic Citadel Hill, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on October 31.

Before he died on Halloween in 1926, Houdini promised to send a message
from the Great Beyond. His widow Beatrice held the first ten séances on
the anniversary of his death, and each year since the Official Houdini
Séance has been held in a city where Houdini performed. It is now
organized by an American consortium of Houdini experts, piloted by Tom
Boldt and Bill Radner, son of Sidney Radner who was caretaker of the
Séance from 1947-2010. Halifax organizer is Nova Scotia author and
Houdini historian Bruce MacNab.

Goulish thrill seekers in Halifax
will be looking for signs of legendary magician Harry Houdini’s return
from the grave this Halloween night.
Houdini, whose real name was Ehrich Weisz, died in Detroit at the age of 52 on Oct. 31, 1926. He was buried in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, N.Y.

Just before he passed away, he promised his wife he'd send a message from the great beyond, if it was possible.

Since his death 87 years ago, there's been a séance — somewhere in the world — every Halloween night. This year it will be held in Halifax.

21 October 2013

He was performing with his late father, the popular stage hypnotist and illusionist, known simply as Reveen.

“I remember Amherst quite well,” Reveen said. “We played in an old
school gymnasium and an old hotel, I think it was called the Colonial.
It was a great town to visit and the place was packed.”

Reveen returns to Amherst Oct. 22 as part of his latest tour through
the Maritimes, following in the footsteps of his father, Peter Reveen,
who made numerous trips through the region during a career that spanned
five decades.

19 October 2013

For the first time at any magic convention there will be a triple magic championship competition. The combination of the I.B.M. and S.A.M. annual competitions with the 2014 FISM North America Championships of Magic will offer the greatest magic competition ever presented. These three magic contests will offer a total of over $30,000 cash awards plus performing contracts. While you must
be a North American resident to be eligible for the FISM Championships,
all accepted contest participants, regardless of their home country,
are eligible for the I.B.M. and S.A.M. cash awards.

The contest is limited to 30 stage and 30 close-up competitors. These
competitors will be chosen from audition videos (see the website for
details). A potential of fifteen residents of North America will have
the opportunity to advance to the FISM 2015 World Championship of Magic
in Rimini, Italy. Two of these winners will be crowned FISM 2014 North
American Champions, one in stage and one in close-up.

18 October 2013

Local Magician Nicholas Wallace is starring in a theatrical production at the Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton.

Though the belief in ghosts and spirits is
exceptionally old, one period in recent history stands out as something
special. In the mid to late 1800’s, millions of people became convinced
that they could communicate with the dead. For many people this belief
exists to this day.

You will experience a few theatrical items that grew out of the Séance room. You will take part in an experiment to contact the dead. You will be scared.

17 October 2013

Over the past 8 years I’ve brought to Toronto some of the finest talent in the world. Whether they were magic A-listers or people you hadn’t heard of, what they all had in common was that they were world-class talent.

So with that in mind… trust me.

I’m offering TEN TICKETS to a workshop with a mystery performer. That’s right, I won’t tell you who it is. What I will tell you though is that he performs regularly behind the bar in Boston, in the close-up room at the Magic Castle, and at New York's Off-Broadway Magic show, Monday Night Magic. He’s also published a number of effects and a DVD with some of the biggest magic companies in the world, and is a regular at the exclusive, invitation-only Fechter's Finger Flicking Frolic convention.

15 October 2013

Canada's Magic is offering, for the rest of October, a 40% discount on the listed price of any one year advertising package. Qualifying packages include the Platinum, Gold, and Silver annual rates. (This offer does not include Sponsored Posts.)

13 October 2013

Calgary’s showcase for sleight-of-hand has officially marked the calendar for the second annual WowFest Magic Arts Festival. Set to appear in the last two weeks of February 2014, to amaze Calgary audiences with a variety of comedy, magic, and mystery entertainments.

After a highly successful and sold-out debut, WowFest is
set to return with a full line-up of magicians spread over two weeks,
hosted in the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts. The event begins on
Family Day, February 17th, with an opportunity for families to not only
see some magic shows, but participate in workshops where they can learn
magic tricks for beginners. The rest of the festival, ending on March
1st, will feature a wide variety of performances for all ages, including
mysteries exclusively for grown-up minds to ponder.

12 October 2013

CFI Canada is proud to
present an exclusive evening with skeptical funnyman and magician Penn
Jillette. Penn will talk about his experiences as a skeptic and atheist,
answer audience questions and sign copies of his new book 'Every Day
Is an Atheist Holiday!' After the event will follow an exclusive Members
Only reception for your chance to get up close and personal with Penn.
Become a Member or Renew today to receive free admission to the event and secure your spot at the reception.

11 October 2013

Roman Cascade was an ambitious project about art and going after your dreams. Scott Hammell talks about his idol, Penn Jillette and how he inspired Scott to think about art differently. After a disastrous first attempt, Scott Hammell successfully juggles live explosives.

06 October 2013

Robert Alexander Barna passed away peacefully on Thursday September 5th, 2013 in Kitchener, Ontario at the age of 54.

Barney was a gifted magician entertaining many with Merlin at birthday
parties, special events, local restaurants sharing his charm and wit
through his mystifying card tricks and illusions.
He is survived by his children, Jaryd and Jacklyn and their mother
Karen, his parents Eugene and Marie of Leamington, his siblings: Peter
(Jeannine), Jean (Kip Brown), Paul, David (Joanne), Terry (Sharon),
Kevin, Debbie (Bob Richardson).

05 October 2013

Catch magician Dan Trommater in this rare public performance before he heads to LA to perform at The World Famous Hollywood Magic Castle.

** FOR TICKETS: **https://shiftyourperspective.eventbrite.ca/
This will be an intimate evening of magic and mystery. With only 45 available tickets, you'll be close enough to see every moment. Close enough to swear that you should be able to see how the tricks work - but don't be disappointed if you leave baffled.

04 October 2013

Great news today! Bill Radner informs me that the 2013 Official Houdini Seance will be held in the catacombs of the historic Citadel HIll in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Halloween of this year.

Houdini and Bess performed in Halifax during their first tour of the
Canadian Maritimes in 1896. That formative tour is the subject of Bruce
MacNab's excellent book, The Metamorphosis: The Apprenticeship of Harry Houdini.
Bruce will be co-hosting this year's seance, which is going to have a
terrific lineup of guests and performers and will have a limited amount
of tickets available to the public.

02 October 2013

CARDICIAN 'TYLER WILSON' WILL BE COMING TO 'BROWSER'S DEN' this Saturday October 5th.
He will be the Special Guest for Browser's Den Free Magic Club and will be at the shop from about 2:00pm to about 4:30pm. Tyler will be doing tricks and talking magic with magic club members.